Castleford star Holmes on the mend

Tony Harber

Castleford Tigers boss Daryl Powell has given fans some good news after reporting key first teamer Oliver Holmes on the mend and possibly back in line for a first team return in the next two weeks.

Back row forward Holmes has only been able to start four times this season after picking up a knee injury and broke down in his comeback game at Wigan in April, but is now progressing well in his rehab.

Powell explained: “Oliver Holmes is improving and we’re hopeful that in the next couple of weeks he’ll be available.

“He needs to go through some work in training to make sure he’s okay and we don’t have the same thing as previously where he’s back in for one game and out again. We’ll do that over the next week or so then hopefully he’ll be okay.”

Powell has Nathan Massey back available after injury for this Friday’s trip to Huddersfield Giants and Joel Monaghan is back in contention after being ill for the Wigan game last week.

But forward Larne Patrick cannot play as part of his loan deal with Huddersfield.

Powell, meanwhile, has said he is happy with the way the three players he has brought in during this season have fitted in with the squad.

He said: “The new players we’ve brought in have fitted in well.

“Paddy Flynn’s played the last few games and looked okay. He’s real strong carrying the ball. There were a couple of defensive lapses last week, but he’s been pretty good.

“Danny Tickle’s been working hard trying to get fitter and trying to get his game legs. He’s done some good stuff.

“It’s been tough for Larne Patrick. He’s had an injury and he needs to get fit. He’s been playing and he hasn’t been training - that’s really hard for a player when they are not on the training field.”